FEBRUARY 2015 $6.95 GST INCL.

PRACTICE

Through the keyholeWhy minimally invasive

surgery is gaining popularity, page 10

Bright futureWhat you need to

consider to future proof your practice, page 14

Taking the leadWinner of the recent Vet Nurse of the Year Award, Tiffany Swift, shares what it takes to be the best Social policy

Learn how to manage your workplace social

media usage, page 26

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February 2015

News + events4. National Recognition of Veterinary RegistrationUniversity of Sydney research uncovers chemical exposure indictor; WSAVA 2015 fun run, and much more …

Cover story18. Meet the Vet Nurse of the YearIt takes many special skills and positive traits to be named the VNCA Hill’s Vet Nurse of the Year. Judging by 2014 winner Tiffany Swift, one of those traits is modesty

Your world10. Keyhole in oneThe use of minimally invasive surgery in small animals is gaining popularity in Australia

Your business14. Future proof your businessThere’s a new way of working in the 21st century that will help vet practitioners be compassionate but competitive

22. Performance anxietyStaff reviews can be a positive experience for all involved—if done right

26. Logging outWhile social media is a powerful and effective tool, it can also be easily abused. Instituting a clear and unambiguous social media policy makes great business sense

Your tools8. New productsThe latest and greatest gear for your practice

29. Product guideVet Practice magazine’s guide to the best osteoarthritis products on the market today

39. Tools of the tradeA blood pressure tester that will blow you away; an oxygen concentrator that covers all bases, and much more are under review this month

Your life42. Cave manThe thrill of discovery has led Dr Craig Challen of Vetwest Animal Hospital in Clarkson, WA, to become one of Australia’s leading technical cave divers

Contents

C O N T E N T S

10

22

18 42

PRACTICE

Editorial Director Rob Johnson

Sub-editor Kerryn Ramsey

Editor Nicole Hogan

Digital Director Ann Gordon

Art Director Lucy Glover

Contributors Dr Deepa Gopinath, Frank Leggett, Chris Sheedy, Samantha Trenoweth

Commercial Director Mark Brown

For all editorial or advertising enquiries:Phone (02) 9660 6995 Fax (02) 9518 5600info@vetpracticemag.com.au

Vet Practice magazine is published 11 times a year by Engage Media, Suite 4.17, 55 Miller Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009. ABN 50 115 977 421. Views expressed in Vet Practice magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Engage Media. Printed by Webstar.

26

14

Sales Director Adam Cosgrove

4,517 - CAB Audited as at September 2014

4

news + events

The well-known shingle back or sleepy lizard suffers a high prevalence of anaemia associated with agricultural chemical exposure, research by the University of Sydney revealed.

The finding suggested the lizard could provide advance warning of the impact of agricultural chemicals, in the same way canaries in coal mines once warned of dangerously high-levels noxious gases.

“Many Australians are familiar with this South Australian lizard whose head resembles its tail,” said Associate Professor David Phalen, from the University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and an author on the findings, recently published in Royal Society Open Science.

“The fact this species is being affected by chemicals means other wildlife, livestock and even humans sharing the same environment may be affected. It suggests the health of other reptiles may also indicate the overall health of the environment.”

The research was led by Anita Smyth at CSIRO (now at the University of Adelaide) and Elizabeth Smee, a Masters student in Wildlife Health and Population Management at the University of Sydney.

Among the many chemicals continually released by humans into agricultural environments are fertilisers, weed killers, insecticides and poisons to kill mice, rats and foxes. Despite their widespread use, the impact these chemicals have separately, or in combination, on wildlife remains little known.

The study focused on sleepy lizards because of their potential as a sentinel of environmental health. They occur throughout southern Australia, in areas touched by livestock grazing

or cereal cultivation and live 20 to 50 years, with young born annually.

“Our study explored the health of two wild populations of sleepy lizards from unimproved rangelands and the nearby ‘intensively managed’ fragmented landscapes of southern Australia’s cereal croplands. We looked at their physical condition and took blood samples,” said Professor Phalen.

“Fifty-six per cent of the sleepy lizards inhabiting an intensively managed cropping area were experiencing a significant anaemia as opposed to the unexposed (control) group of lizards which showed no evidence of anaemia.

It appeared this was the result of exposure to one or more chemicals which caused damage to the lizards’ red blood cells causing them to be destroyed prematurely.

“The overall impact was difficult to determine but is likely to have interfered with reproduction and may have caused some animals to die.”

Adult sleepy lizards in croplands south of the Murray River barrier were found to have reduced body condition which was believed to be the result of their anaemia.

The lizards were exposed to multiple agricultural chemicals. The chemical thought most likely to be the cause of the anaemia was zinc phosphide which is used to kill mice.

Another unexpected finding was some lizards in the control group were exhibiting a high white blood cell count but were not anaemic. These findings suggest these animals were experiencing a chronic infectious disease which could result in an increased death rate and population reduction.

“If we do not closely monitor the health of our wildlife, we will not know what damage we are doing,” said Professor Phalen.

“We plan on continuing this work to identify the specific chemicals poisoning these lizards and to monitor their ability to recover.”

The CSIRO, PMB 2, Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, the University of Western Australia, TERN Eco-informatics Facility and Flinders University were also involved in this research.

Lizard illness ‘canary in the coalmine’ for chemical exposure

Changes to the National Recognition of Veterinary RegistrationThe Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia announced, as of 1 January 2015, South Australia now has national recognition of veterinary registration (NRVR). (Note: ACT, Northern Territory and Western Australia are the remaining territories and state which do not have NRVR.)

This means that veterinarians, who currently hold primary registration in another Australian State or Territory and reside permanently in that place, are entitled to practise as a veterinary surgeon in South Australia without having to register with the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia.

NRVR applies equally to veterinarians with specialist registration.

Conditions and limitations placed on any registration by another Australian Veterinary Board will apply to the veterinarian when they practise in South Australia and, of course, while working in South Australia, they must comply with the obligations, requirements and conditions as set out in South Australian legislation.

Once an interstate registered vet takes up permanent residence in South Australia, they are required to apply for (primary) registration with the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia. In practical terms, if an interstate registered vet moves to a permanent or ongoing position in South Australia, they can commence working immediately in South Australia under NRVR, but must lodge their application for registration as soon as practicable.

VP010_Catvocate.indd 21 4/12/2014 4:39 pm

6

news + events

A mobile veterinary clinic would help fight against Tasmania’s ‘out of control’ feral cat population, proponents said.

Just Cats Tasmania shelter manager Rachel Beech and animal rights activist Diane Burkhalter told The Examiner the versatile clinic would provide a convenient and minimal-cost desexing service, especially in Tasmania’s remote areas where veterinary services are either non-existent or time-consuming and costly to reach.

Burkhalter, who is producing a submission for the State Government, said it would cost an estimated $600,000 to set up and could be

used in a similar way to the state’s Mobile Dental Service.

She said it would promote and encourage cat owners to desex their pets. It could be used for microchipping both

dogs and cats and during natural disasters such as bushfires to support pets and wildlife.

Once established, it could be contracted out to a veterinarian or animal welfare group.

The State Government is considering changes to the Feral Cat Management Act 2009 to reduce cat numbers and increase responsible ownership.

Beech said that now was the time to act as Tasmania’s feral cat population was getting worse.

‘‘I think Tasmania’s biggest problem is on the bigger picture of people not realising that just by having one litter, what that does or

giving away a litter of kittens, and what that could potentially do if they are not desexed,’’ she explained.

‘‘There are a lot of remote areas in Tasmania where we have the biggest jump in kittens because there are no veterinary services about.

‘‘I reckon 30 per cent of our cats come from the West Coast where there’s no-one to help the Zeehan, Queenstown, Smithton and Burnie area apart from Spreyton RSPCA.

‘‘There is nowhere for these cats to go, so dumping is the way to do it, which in turn creates a whole bunch of feral cats.

‘‘I also don’t think we have enough vets on board with the National Desexing Network, who offer a discount but they have got to have vets on board.’’

Beech said that about 3000 cats and kittens were euthanised every year in Tasmania, as felines could produce multiple annual litters from about four months of age. The mobile veterinary clinic would desex about 3300 cats a year and educate the community about the severity of the problem.

Delegates to the upcoming World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) congress are urged to raise funds to control rabies in Africa by signing up for the third ‘Fun(d) Run’ organised by the WSAVA’s charitable foundation.

WSAVA Congress takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, on 15-18 May. A five-kilometre run and three-kilometre walking course through the heart of the city are being created and the event will take place during the congress. Proceeds will be used by the WSAVA Foundation’s AFSCAN initiative to help launch a project in Africa to fight rabies in the most exposed countries and areas.

The African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), launched in early 2014, aims to advance standards of veterinary care across Africa through facilitating the creation of a sustainable network of companion animal veterinarians, associations and

specialist groups in Sub-Saharan Africa. One Health is a focus for AFSCAN, making the surveillance and control of diseases, such as rabies, a priority for activity.

Commenting, Dr Gabriel Varga, chair of the AFSCAN board and director of business operations for Zoetis North Europe region, said: “The AFSCAN project has ambitious goals to transform the veterinary landscape across Africa and to make strides in controlling dangerous but preventable diseases, such as rabies.

“Our event in Bangkok will be our third Fun(d) Run and we’re delighted at the support it’s receiving. More than 300 veterinarians braved challenging weather to take part in the event in Cape Town in 2014.

“The proceeds from both of our previous runs were donated to Mission Rabies, a project led by Worldwide Veterinary Services and Dogs Trust, which is contributing to

work to eliminate rabies globally by 2030 by running mass dog vaccination campaigns in disease hotspots in India and Africa.

“Our WSAVA Foundation Fun(d) Run and Walk for 2015 will be even bigger and better, with medals for the fastest 15 men and women. We hope all delegates will want to take part, either in the Fun(d) Run itself or in the more leisurely walk—and that they will encourage their friends to sign up too!”

The WSAVA Foundation’s Fun(d) Runs are supported by Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Zoetis.

Run to help beat rabies in Africa

Push for mobile vet

Fel-O-Vax FIV kittens become cats that keep coming back

Based on a survey of 213 clinics around Australia1, 76% of vets believe that FIV vaccination of kittens is likely to increase the number of repeat annual vaccinations throughout a cat’s life.

Fel-O-Vax FIV kittensbecome cats that keep coming back

References: 1. Boehringer-Ingelheim data on fi le.

Australia: Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited ABN 52 000 452 308. Animal Health Division, 78 Waterloo Road, North Ryde NSW 2113. Toll free: 1800 038 037. Fel-O-Vax FIV® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. Bi825TA-07/14

BI825 PressAds-FIV Passport.indd 1 06/08/2014 16:46:31

8

N E W P R O D U C T S

PRODUCTS GUIDENEWThe latest and greatest products and services for vet practices

NVC WAS STARTED out of a genuine passion for the veterinary industry and a drive to provide the best support. The Business Excellence Support Team (BEST) is responsible for the back office support that gets in the way of running a client focussed practice.

When is it time to start succession planning?You have put a lot of time and effort into building your brand and relationships with your clients so it is a big decision trying to work out what is next step for the future.

Selling your practice doesn’t mean that you won’t be working in the practice or that the legacy and brand that you have built needs to change in any way. What selling can achieve is giving you a better work life balance.

What if you are thinking about it but not really sure how it all works?Consider haing a conversation with one of the team at National Vet Care (NVC). These conversations are completely confidential and there is no obligation to sell your practice.

There is a lot of opportunity in the market at the moment but it’s important to consider not only the buying price but also make sure that your personal values are aligned with the group and you can see an exciting future ahead.

What makes NVC different?n International best practice administrative support;n Clinical staff will be able to benefit and progress in their careers

with specific targeted training programs.n Your branding, image and reputation will not change when

you join the group. The clinic will maintain the local team feel it currently has;

n Access to NVC’s industry leading particle training institution delivering hands on training.

National Vet Care (NVC)

Introducing NexGard® Chewables for Dogs

A convenient monthly flea and tick protection for dogs MERIAL, A WORLD-LEADING animal health company, this month announced the launch of NexGard

Chewables for Dogs – the first, monthly beef-flavoured chew that kills fleas and

ticks for an entire month – including the deadly paralysis tick.

Merial identified a need for an effective and easy-to-administer product following recent research

into flea and tick control behaviour amongst pet owners in Australia. The research found only 48 per cent of dog owners treat their pets correctly against fleas and, more worryingly, 82 per cent of dog owners who live in paralysis tick zones are not treating correctly to protect their dogs from the deadly paralysis tick1.

On launching the product today, Andrew Palmer, Merial Country Manager Australia said, “NexGard is the next-generation of flea and tick protection in a simple, monthly tasty chew.

“With NexGard, dog owners will now have a convenient product that is easy to give, just like a monthly treat - without the need for tricks or coaxing.”

“With so many flea and tick control options, it’s easy for dog owners to get lost in the search for what’s best for their dog, NexGard provides dog owners and veterinarians with a simple solution – one NexGard chew, once a month to protect their dog from fleas and ticks for a full month2,” continued Andrew.

Village Vets, Dr Anthony Bennett and Dr James Carroll welcome the next generation chew, “It’s a game changer. Whether it’s a flea infestation or a life threatening paralysis tick, we find that in our clinic, many cases could be prevented if the dog had been receiving treatment correctly,” said Anthony.

James adds, “Most dog owners understand the importance of protecting their dog from parasites. Some prefer an oral treatment to help protect their dogs from both fleas and ticks but until now, have had to settle for oral products that control only fleas.

“Now with NexGard and its easy to administer monthly dosage, we expect to see an increase in compliance among owners,” concluded James. 1 IPSOS Brand Tracking Data Feb 20142 NexGard should be used in conjunction with daily searching and removal of ticks

Y O U R W O R L D

Dr Deepa Gopinath explores minimally invasive surgery in

small animals

Keyhole in one

11

he commonly performs minimally invasively.

These procedures were traditionally performed using an open technique, but the benefits of performing them using MIS have by now been well documented in the literature. “There are many advantages, the greatest being less trauma to the patient. This leads to less post-operative pain and an earlier return to function,” says Dr Culvenor, and finds that hospitalisation times are significantly decreased.

Dr Lidbetter adds that there are further benefits of MIS when it comes to joint surgery. “Arthroscopy also provides better visualisation of the joint. In the elbow, for instance, substantially more of the joint can be seen than via an open approach, where only some of the medial

compartment can be seen,” he explains. “There is a potentially lower infection rate due to faster operating times and less tissue exposure and trauma.”

From the clients’ perspective, the ability to minimise surgical trauma is a major draw card. Jane Sheridan chose the MIS option for her Neapolitan mastiff cross breed puppy Rani. When the time came for Rani to be desexed, her veterinarian advised that a prophylactic gastropexy be performed at the same time, as Rani’s size and build increased her susceptibility to development of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) later in life. Dr Culvenor performed both procedures using MIS, thus avoiding the fairly long abdominal incision that would have been the result of open surgery. “I didn’t realise animals could have this option,” admits Sheridan. “I liked the idea of smaller incisions and a faster recovery. She is a big dog so keeping her quiet after the surgery could have been an issue and may have caused more problems if she had a large wound.”

Despite the many benefits of MIS over open surgery, availability is mainly limited to a few centres in major cities. According to Dr Culvenor, the factors that limit wider use are “the cost of the equipment and the training and practice required to become proficient in the skills needed”. A basic set of equipment includes a tilt table, various scopes, a camera, monitor,

“There are many advantages, the greatest being less trauma to the patient.”Dr John Culvenor, specialist surgeon at Sydney’s North Shore Veterinary Specialist Centre

“IF YOU PLAY A LOT OF VIDEO GAMES, you’d probably be good at laparoscopy,” Dr John Culvenor says as he expertly holds the camera steady with one hand while manoeuvring an instrument through the cavernous abdominal cavity with the other. Indeed, the visual effect is not unlike a video game, or even a simulator ride in a theme park. Instead of meteors to watch out for, it’s major blood vessels.

Dr Culvenor, a specialist surgeon at Sydney’s North Shore Veterinary Specialist Centre (NSVSC), has been developing his interest in minimally invasive surgery for the past 10 years. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), also known as keyhole surgery, uses one or more tiny portals to facilitate surgical access. Surgical trauma is minimal compared to ‘open’ surgery, where a full-length incision is made. A tiny fibre-optic telescope connected to a camera and a light is inserted to facilitate visualisation and aid the navigation of long handled sterile instruments. The surgeon views the magnified two-dimensional image from the camera on a monitor. Major sub-types of MI surgery are laparoscopy (abdominal cavity), thoracoscopy (thoracic cavity) and arthroscopy (joint cavity).

“The earliest adopters of MIS were the equine surgeons who have been using it routinely for joint surgery for 15 years,” explains Dr Culvenor. In small animals such as dogs and cats, commonly performed soft tissue MIS procedures include ovariectomy, prophylactic gastropexy, cystotomy, enterotomy, organ biopsy, feeding tube placement and pericardiectomy, to name a few. Specialist orthopaedic surgeon Dr David Lidbetter performs a number of orthopaedic procedures using MIS at his Sydney practice, Animal Orthopaedic Specialists. Dr Lidbetter names exploratory arthroscopy, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) cartilage flap removal, menisectomy and tenotomy among some procedures

Equine surgeons were early adopters of MIS.

Pho

tog

rap

hy:

Dr

John

Cul

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insufflator, light source and capture unit, as well as some special instruments. This can set the practice back around $20,000 for good quality second-hand equipment to approximately $100,000 for new equipment, reveals Dr Culvenor. MIS procedures are more expensive to clients than are open surgeries. At NSVSC, laparoscopic ovariectomy costs around 50 per cent more than the open approach, and arthroscopy at Animal Orthopaedic Specialists can cost in excess of $1800.

Obtaining the equipment is really just the beginning, as the skills required to perform MIS take time and patience to develop. In a review article published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery last year, Dr Boel Fransson of Washington State University’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences outlined some of the challenges of learning MIS techniques. “Loss of depth perception and the use of very long instruments with a fulcrum effect are among the factors that make laparoscopic techniques difficult. In

Y O U R W O R L D

opportunities for skill development. In Australia, there are currently a very limited number of workshops, such as the Minimally Invasive Surgery Masterclass, which was held at the University of Melbourne in September last year. Laparoscopy simulators are an excellent way to improve skills such as instrument handling, spatial orientation and working from a monitor. These range from simple home-made devices involving a box and a webcam to much more sophisticated and expensive virtual reality systems such as LapSim (Surgical Science).

It seems that MIS is set to play a significant role in the future of small animal veterinary surgery as more equipment is developed that is suitable for veterinary patients, and the advantages of this approach become more widely known. As for the exuberant Rani, Jane Sheridan is pleased she chose the MIS option. “Her recovery was good, she wasn’t sore or uncomfortable. You wouldn’t have known she had had surgery!”

12

addition, the surgeon needs to work in a reduced field of vision, with visualisation depending on the orientation and quality of the camera and scope, and monitor resolution,” Dr Fransson said.

Dr Culvenor emphasises a thorough understanding of the principles, equipment and problems are among the prerequisite skills. “Manipulative skills take practice to develop and there is a significant learning curve for beginners. Those with reasonable surgical experience tend to learn faster, but not everyone can master the art of working off a screen with awkward instruments!”

Even experienced surgeons need to overcome the inherent difficulties of MIS. “It is hard to retract organs as we do with open surgery. To overcome this, we tilt the table to use gravity as a retractor. Suturing and applying ligatures is also difficult so clips as well as vessel sealers and cutters such as LigaSure (Covidien) are usually used to carry this out,” says Dr Culvenor.

For those veterinarians who are keen to venture into MIS, there are some

The skills required to perform MIS take time and

patience to develop.

For more information on the VetQuip “PRO” Anaesthesia System visit www.vetquip.com.au or call 1300 888 427

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14

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

IN THE FACE OF INCREASING competition and greater financial pressures, there is a number of ways to lift your game. With 2015 well underway, it’s time to embrace a new business vision—future proofing your practice’s efficiency, income and profitability.

There’s a new way of working in the 21st century that will help vet practitioners be compassionate but competitive. Kerryn Ramsey gets into the minds of some of Australia’s most business-savvy experts

Future proof your practice

“Customer service is about people. It’s about having empathetic staff who can recognise what clients require.”Dr Jeannet Kessels, Springfield District Veterinary Clinic

1 Finding a nicheOne of the toughest challenges

in the profession, explains vet coach Dr Diederik Gelderman of Turbo Charge Your Practice, is the increasing number of veterinarians in Australia. To deal with so much competition, it’s important to study your demographics and determine your market. After compiling your stats and looking at your practice’s strengths, you can then find your own niche. This could range from being a feline specialist to a greyhound expert.

“Many practitioners look like peas in a pod,” says Dr Gelderman. “They need to determine their market model and ideal client, and then focus on doing what these clients want. Give it to them in spades by creating an exclusive niche.”

15

Future proof your practice3 Responsive web design

Utilising social media is one of the most effective marketing tools for a practice but it’s also a time-consuming exercise for staff. That’s why outsourcing or syndicating content is gaining popularity.

Tristan Bond, founder of Healthcare Business Group, explains that one way to free up time is to use one piece of content to duplicate across a number of platforms—as an email or blog format, on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram, and even via a customer relationship management system.

“Social media provides the right message to the right market in the right way,” says Bond, who’s the author of 7 Steps to Unlimited Patients: How to Build Multimillion Dollar Practices. To make this work effectively, a practice’s website needs to be designed for both desktop, tablets and mobile users—that’s why responsive web design, which delivers web pages in variable sizes, has gained popularity for businesses.

4 Pet insurance boomVeterinarians have responded

to the growth of pet insurance policies in Australia. “The number of policies have doubled in the past three years, and it will get bigger because it fits into people’s household budgets,” says Dr Gelderman. “Pet owners can pay pet insurance monthly through direct debit, lumping it in with their household or car insurance.”

Dr Kessels embraces this—her well-trained staff explain to clients that all puppies and kittens up to one year are offered one month’s free insurance. The “insured pets’ spend is 1.6X that of non-insured so this is crucial to success,” she says. “We allow direct payment by Petplan rather than the customer. While this is not ideal for cash flow, the 1.6X increased spend with insured pets makes good economic sense.”

5 Corporate successListed on the ASX in 2007,

Greencross Vets is the leader in veterinary business models with over 100 GP clinics on the books throughout Australia. According to the Greencross ‘Future Options’ book, “The worries and concerns of payroll, staff education, recruitment, IT and marketing are virtually removed by the dedicated professionals within the Greencross Support Office.”

For private practices, competition has meant that they need to market themselves effectively. “This requires consistency of personality,” says Dr Gelderman. “For a private practice, the same vet is on-call when clients arrive, unlike many corporates. It’s a chance for private vets to have a strong bond with their clients, as well as for the pets themselves.”

2 Selling productsFrom the 1970s on, selling

products ranging from shampoos to heartworm tablets became part of a smart business strategy for a practice. Although the internet has encouraged online shopping, vets have refined their repertoires, offering luxury items, such as cat carriers and gourmet food. “In the pet industry, 30-40 per cent of people are going to buy online because they want the cheapest, but the other 60 per cent of people want the best,” says Dr Gelderman.

Vet owner Dr Jeannet Kessels of Springfield District Veterinary Clinic in south-east Queensland treats sales and customer service as a balancing act.

“Customer service is about people,” she says. “It’s about having empathetic staff who can recognise what clients require and pre-empt wishes they may not have yet articulated. Customer service starts at reception but our culture of ‘Is there something more I can do for you?’ means that it flows through all staff from kennel hands to vets.”

As internet sales increase, product mark-up is now lower—that’s why veterinarians are looking at other avenues to improve sales. “We are introducing a Rewards Card to stay up to date with Greencross and Petbarn,” explains Dr Kessels who won the national 2014 AVA Practice of Excellence Awards.

6 Pampering petsOver the past few decades, a

strong trend in the profession is for pets to become ‘family members’. “Families are smaller and perhaps more ‘indoor’ than in the ’90s,” says Dr Kessels. “We are seeing less Rottweilers and cattle dogs and more white fluffies and poodle crosses. These are fed premium foods and owners have a vested interest in puppy school, etc, as these dogs are going to be an integral part of family life.”

She notes that the inevitability and reality of ageing is not always recognised, so clients are more committed to extending life at almost any cost. “This means the medical component of a veterinary practice is being continually extended; it has become a dominant part of modern practice.”

Dr Kessels says, however, vets need to have some sensitivity. “Ethically, we must ensure that clients are aware of prognoses for complex conditions and not assume that every pet is necessarily deemed a family member,” she says. “But of course, closer bonding with pets is great for business.”

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

7 In the cloudsA cloud-based management

package can now make business more efficient. “This is the way of the future,” says Dr Kessels. “The veterinary workplace is the most interruptive I can think of, so if you want bang for your buck in administration, let your staff work quietly in their own space with a cup of tea.”

Her practice has signed up with BeeFree vet management software, which lets staff member work from home, doing management tasks, following up calls, emails, pricing, reminders and meetings. It also allows integration with cloud-based applications such as Xero accounting, and Dr Kessels is planning to introduce Dashboarding which provides current data on practice financial performance and staff KPIs.

Are you connected?Vet Practice magazine is your monthly vet news source, but did you know about all our online tools?

News in the veterinary space is breaking faster every day. Log on and see how we keep you up to date with:

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And keep a check of our twitter feed at: @VetPracticeMag

PRACTICE

8 Business timeRunning a practice means

that a practitioner now needs to have their fingers in many pots—but was this the dream job for an animal-committed vet? “In my opinion, the vet needs to stay a vet,” says Dr Gelderman. “They need to have a business manager because they don’t have the skills, training or the inclination.”

Tristan Bond agrees, stating that vets should “focus on what they’re awesome at, then systematise and delegate everything else”.

Dr Gelderman says that vets need to appreciate the significance of their profession. “We’re incredibly privileged to be able to make a direct change in pets’ lives,” he says. “We need to take that bull by the horns and do something with it. We should be ourselves and have a better industry for ourselves.”

Pets are an integral part of family life.

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C O V E R S T O RY

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Meet the

It takes many special skills and positive traits to be named the VNCA Hill’s Vet

Nurse of the Year. Judging by 2014 winner Tiffany Swift, one of those traits is modesty

discovers Chris Sheedy

IT IS VERY LUCKY FOR A CERTAIN young Staffordshire Bull Terrier that 2014’s VNCA Hills Vet Nurse of the Year, Tiffany Swift, is an animal lover who also has an enormous level of understanding, empathy and patience. When she is at work at the Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic in north-eastern NSW, she deals with animals of all shapes and sizes and then, when she comes home, Tiffany also takes care of a few of her own. These include two Staffies named Rhylee and Keisha, a cockatiel, a budgerigar and several fish. But the Staffordshire puppy Keisha, less than 12 months old, has been busy exercising her growing jaws on household items and causing damage for which young Staffies are famous.

“The lawnmower lost all of its wheels recently when the dog decided to chew them off,” says 22-year-old Tiffany with a smile. “Everything else in the garden has been chewed to pieces, including all of the plants. But that’s okay. The little Staffie will grow out of this stage soon enough.”

This positivity demonstrates an attitude and an approach to problem solving (having to buy a new lawnmower because of a new puppy would not leave many owners smiling…) that contributes enormously to making Tiffany such a valuable staff member at Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic. One of the reasons veterinarian Dr Lauren Porter nominated Tiffany for the national nursing award was because of her approach to people and problems.

“Tiffany is a very clear and patient communicator,” Lauren says. “She is very giving of her time. If the patients need a gentle hand or more time then she is always there. If clients need more time to learn what is going on or to understand the situation or more time to make a decision then Tiffany is wonderful with supporting them through that. She also does an amazing job of organising the vets and she finds time to call the owners to find out how their pets are going after a treatment or after surgery. Her ability to follow up and empathise with the patients and with the clients is fantastic.” P

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Vet Nurse of the Year

However, Tiffany doesn’t admit to recognising any of this in herself. She does know that she has a great passion for her work, but as she sat at the awards ceremony in a Sydney restaurant overlooking the harbour, having been flown in especially for the occasion, it was with a sense of calm that came from the fact that she knew she could not possibly win.

Perhaps her modesty comes from the fact that this job as a vet nurse was Tiffany’s first. And it is one she has been doing since she was 15, throughout her final two years of school and through several more years of TAFE and further vet nursing studies.

“I had always enjoyed a love of animals from a very young age,” she says. “I knew that I wanted my work to have something to do with animals so I started doing work experience here at Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic. I began as a school-based trainee when I was 15, at the end of Year 10. During this time I did my Certificate II as a school-based subject, meaning I would go to TAFE every Monday from 2pm to 6pm during years 11 and 12. When I finished, I did a Certificate IV in Vet Nursing at Lismore TAFE. That was another two years of learning and on-the-job training.”

Fast forward to October 2014 when Tiffany found herself sitting with two other leading Vet Nurse of the Year nominees in Cafe Sydney, positioned on the rooftop of Customs House and boasting stunning panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Tiffany had been flown from the Gold Coast Airport early that morning for the event, and had been met at Sydney Airport by a representative of Hills then given a limousine tour of Sydney.

At the event itself each of the three finalists, who had been decided upon after judges carefully considered hundreds of nominees, had their biography read aloud for the attendees of the lunch and awards ceremony.

“I heard what was read out about the other two girls and I thought they were just so good that there was no chance of

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Tiffany Swift is a veterinary nurse at Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic in north-eastern NSW.

always see yourself as quite a little person. But Tiffany has grown so far beyond that.”

Another of the reasons for Tiffany’s win is the extra education

and training she often volunteers to take, including an average of one

full-day or weekend course each quarter on such varied and specialised topics as people skills, communication, or animal dentistry for specific species.

Then there is the fact that she is a particular type of person, one who has proven to be a superb multi-tasker and who never leaves smaller jobs until the end of the day.

“In the daily life of a vet nurse, things can change very quickly and can go from mildly busy to frantic in such a short amount of time. Because of this, if you’re not on top of the other important things they can get left behind,” she says.

“I try to organise my day as best I can to ensure the little things are never overlooked, and the little things can make a big difference. I try to get in and make sure the basic and necessary things are done before work gets extremely busy.”

Tiffany has had much recognition and congratulations from clients of the vet surgery, many of whom have directly benefited from her talent and skills.

“I think I received this award because I love what I do. If you don’t love your job then you’re not going to go the extra mile,” Tiffany says. “And as I have discovered, it is nice to be recognised and to know that people care about your hard work and the time that you put into doing your job well.”

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Tiffany was recognised for her ethical approach to patient care.

me winning,” Tiffany says. “Then, after we had eaten a lovely meal, my name was announced. I don’t think I really felt anything when I heard that I was the winner. I was in shock. I had already decided that one of the other girls was going to get it. So I didn’t really feel anything for quite some time.”

In terms of judging the award Jacque Pollitt, president of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA), says judges look for a variety of strengths. These include vet nurses who have regularly gone above and beyond their job descriptions, who rise above odds and who demonstrate a great commitment to their community.

“Tiffany has been very proactive in her community and that really shows through in all that she does,” Jacque says. “We look for people who have a little extra something, people who create a role for themselves that offers greater value to their community.

“Tiffany’s modesty doesn’t surprise me and in fact it is quite common in the industry. By increasing competency and training of vet nurses, the VNCA is making an effort to increase the profile of the vet nurse, to demonstrate what they are capable of and giving them confidence to recognise their own value and the value to their clinic which can lead to increased remuneration and educational support. Some of our

i PA D

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nominees have presented at conferences overseas, which is amazing.”

When she returned to work, Tiffany’s colleagues took her out to dinner for a celebration. They were all more than aware of the reasons for modest Tiffany’s victory, even if she wasn’t.

“I know why she won,” Lauren says. “It’s because she is incredible! The reason I nominated her is because the last few years that I have spent watching her grow and watching her take on more tasks and watching how she works with patients and clients just fills me with absolute pride. I am proud to be a part of her workplace.

“She was in a more junior role when I started two years ago. In that time I have seen her mature. She’s doing a practice management course now and I’m watching her take on more responsibilities and also watching her confidence grow in terms of how to communicate with people. Her ethical approach to patient care has also been growing. She really has blossomed.”

The vet nurse’s modesty is such that Lauren had to nominate her for the award when Tiffany was away on holiday, otherwise Tiffany never would have let it happen.

“I think Tiffany had not noticed how much she had taken on and grown,” Lauren says. “So this award has been an amazing point in her life and her career development. It gives her a way to reflect on how far she has come. When you work somewhere from a young age, you

“We look for people who have a little extra something, people who create a role for themselves that offers greater value to their community.”Jacque Pollitt, VNCA president

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Y O U R B U S I N E S S

Performance

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Staff reviews can be a positive experience for all involved—if done right, discovers Samantha Trenoweth

anxiety

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DO PERFORMANCE REVIEWS STRIKE terror in the hearts of management and staff alike at your practice? Or does the mere mention of a review bring on paroxysms of guilt—it’s been on the to-do list since this time last year—but everything seemed to be running along smoothly and, well, time beat you.

Wipe the perspiration from that furrowed brow because a thorough performance review need not be the trial-by-fire that you imagine. In a busy vet practice, performance reviews can actually be a great opportunity to catch up, get to know your staff a little better, thank them for a job well done, nip minor problems in the bud and plan for a future in which employees explore their full potential and the practice prospers. Really—a performance review can be that positive.

A performance review can be reassuring. It can help to clarify what’s expected of each member of the team and it can be encouraging to learn that they’re measuring up to expectations. Even if they discover they’ve fallen short, there’s relief in learning exactly what’s expected and how to meet those expectations effectively. It can make staff feel valued and appreciated and help them to understand you’re approachable—that the lines of communication are open between performance reviews too.

It’s a great opportunity to restate the goals and values of the practice and to plan for the future.

However, performance reviews are not without pitfalls. They need to be approached with enthusiasm but also with tact. They need to be planned, not sprung on staff at a moment’s notice. They need to be positive and not degenerate into a string of accusations and defensive retorts. And they need to be, to some extent, reciprocal.

Here are our top tips to help you create a positive, productive assessment process:

1. To get the most out of performance reviews, they need to be conducted regularly—annually or even twice each year—and for new staff, within the first three months of starting.

For objectivity, it’s best to do that before looking at their self-evaluation.

When they return their forms, you can consider them both together and map out topics for further discussion. This sounds like a lot of preparation for a relatively brief review meeting but it helps to ensure that nobody makes hasty, ill-considered responses and it can protect you from surprise problems or questions too.

7. For a performance review to be thoroughly effective, it needs to be a two-way street, with management truly listening to the ideas and needs of staff, as well as assessing their performance.

Remember that a staff review is all about effective communication. It can help you to uncover potential interests and goals among members of your team that could ultimately expand your business as well as ensuring that their work feels rewarding to them. A performance review is a great time to talk about extra training, skill development and responsibilities that will keep staff motivated.

2. If you want employees to respect the process, then everyone needs to be reviewed—vets and management as well as nursing and support staff.

3. If you’re not sure about how to conduct a review, then get some help. Julia Crawford, from Bondi Veterinary Hospital in Sydney, uses forms supplied by a private veterinary business advisor. She uses their standard forms as a blueprint and adjusts them to suit the individual roles in her practice. Private business advisors and the Australian Veterinary Association can also help with tips and sample questionnaires.

4. Cath Colton, business manager at VetShare, suggests that if you don’t have the requisite skills or character traits to conduct a successful performance review, you could even think of inviting an outside party to conduct the interviews for (or with) you. Sometimes, she suggests, if there are problems that need to be discussed, staff might be more open with a stranger. That would, however, be the exception, rather than the rule. Most small vet practices are pretty friendly places and reviews are conducted by management.

5. Whether you decide to create your own questionnaire or base it on a blueprint, you should write a separate one for each position and tie it fairly closely to the job description. That will give the review a solid structure, and staff and management can be clear about expectations.

6. It’s best to give self-evaluation forms to employees roughly a fortnight before the face-to-face meeting and give them a week to think about their responses. During that time, you can fill in your employee evaluation form.

8. Encourage honest answers by listening attentively and by not jumping in to reprimand or penalise when mistakes have been made. Simply point out errors and discuss how they might best be avoided next time.

9. That said, you both need to be open to criticism and willing to make any suggestions and adjustments.

10. Whether you are offering praise or constructive criticism, be clear and use practical, real-life examples to illustrate the points you need to make.

11. Make sure that you and your employee work together to agree on some goals to be accomplished during the next year or review period.

12. Take notes throughout the review process and remember to follow through on plans that you and your employees make. If concrete action comes of this review, staff will take the next one even more seriously.

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

13. Cath Coulton suggests that, for larger practices, a less frequent 360 Review can be a useful addition to the annual performance review. In a 360 Review, co-workers are given the opportunity to assess one another’s performance and value their contributions. Consider whether your practice has the sort of mutually supportive culture that would make this productive.

A performance review can achieve great things. It can indicate whether the right people are in the right jobs and it can encourage ongoing communication. It can help to affirm your core values and culture, it can reassure and motivate staff and it can shine a torch on minor gripes before they become major problems.

It might be time to face the fear and schedule a performance review.

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Y O U R B U S I N E S S

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While social media is a powerful and effective tool, it can also be easily abused. Instituting a clear and unambiguous social media policy makes great business sense, finds Frank Leggett

Logging outTHERE ARE MANY BENEFITS THAT social media provides to a veterinary practice. It can generate an increase in client numbers, make the practice more familiar, highlight services offered, answer questions, discuss concerns and feature testimonials. It can drive new customers to your practice, help establish a new business and turn a financially troubled surgery into a paying concern. Without a doubt, social media is a very powerful tool.

On the other hand, social media is responsible for the majority of time-

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Uploading photos and checking status updates every five minutes is not a good social media policy.

problem with staff logging on. This can be a successful policy but you need to gauge how your staff members use social media. While some people are completely disengaged and check their status once a week, others are incapable of going five minutes without a status update.

“Whatever you decide to do with social media in your workplace, you need to ensure that your employees are using it to benefit the company,” says Darryl Keeley, managing director of Macro Recruitment. “Whether you do this by bringing in a social media policy, blocking the websites or providing dedicated computers, it’s important that your employees are not wasting company time on social media.”

Another issue that can cause big problems is the posting of comments by staff about their employer or workplace. The reach of social media is wide and it is easy for a lighthearted comment to be taken the wrong way. Likewise, disgruntled employees who post negative comments can do irreparable harm to any company, including veterinary practices. In some instances, staff have been taken to court for comments made on Facebook.

“It is important that your social media policy explicitly spells out your expectations,” says Mutimer. “It needs to say that if you badmouth the company on your own social profile, our policy is a warning or even termination. Warn staff that your company has a presence

“You need to ensure that your employees are using it to benefit the company.”Darryl Keeley, managing director of Macro Recruitment.

policy. “Essentially, this is a code of conduct and it needs to clearly spell out what is and is not allowed when using social media,” says Sam Mutimer, director of social media at Thinktank Social. “It’s all about staff understanding expectations and being clear about what they can and cannot do. Everyone needs to be aware of the policy and sign off on it.”

Companies handle their social media policy in different ways. While

some simply place a blanket ban on social media during work

hours, this tends not to be the most effective option. Virtually everyone owns

a smartphone these days and they’re all connected to the internet. Prohibition simply sees staff using their

mobiles surreptitiously to check their preferred sites.

Whenever you say ‘no’ to people, invariably they

push the boundaries.Generally, a good policy

addresses over-use. “When you give staff the option to use

social media at specific times—say, during lunch or on breaks–—you tend to

get a positive buy-in to the program,” says Mutimer. “It’s

better to be a little flexible in your policy.”Another successful idea that has been

instituted by some companies is to have a dedicated computer with social sites open on it. This means that staff can stay connected but their personal use is very obvious. It invariably reduces the amount of time that people spend online and is restricted to approved times.

Meanwhile, other companies have an open access policy with staff connecting online whenever they like. As long as it has no impact on the outcomes of the business, these companies have no

wasting at work by staff. The diversions are endless—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, eBay, online shopping, blogs, emailing, texting—and the amount of time these sites can vacuum-up is astonishing. Unfortunately, it is usually a minority of people abusing the situation which leaves those doing the right thing to make up the shortfall. In this environment, it’s easy for resentment to grow among staff.

The best way to battle the misuse of social media and the internet is with a comprehensive internal social media

across social media and you will be monitoring this. On the other hand, a lot of companies tell their employees that they are very happy for them to talk about their brand in a positive and meaningful way. This can really add value to your company or brand.”

Staff members already know that if they badmouth your business during a night out or at a barbecue, and it gets back to the business owner, there are ramifications. Social media is exactly the same, except that it extends the reach of the individual and so there has to be a tight policy in place.

As managing director of Macro Recruitment, Daryl Keeley has seen a lot of social media policies at a lot of different companies. He makes the point that, “The most effective social media policies clearly spell out:

n The purposen Legal ramificationsn External regulations

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

n State what your employees can and can’t post (company logos, blogs, etc)

n Create two policies—one for employees using social media in their job and one for employees using social media for personal use.”

However, even the most comprehensive internal social media policy is easily forgotten by staff. It needs to be reinforced

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and refreshed regularly to circumvent problems before they arise.

“One thing we’ve found to be really successful is to have a two-minute video that staff can watch every couple of months,” says Mutimer. “If people aren’t reminded and refreshed, they tend to fall back into old habits. Continuously reinforcing with a policy video that is activated on a three-monthly basis makes everyone aware of exactly what is and is not tolerated.”

While social media can add value to a veterinary practice, it must be handled with respect. These days, the line between business and personal is blurry, and it’s easy for people to inadvertently confuse the two. What is posted on social media is out there, effectively, forever. The best defence a vet practice can have to the negatives of social media is education, reinforcement and a comprehensive internal social media policy.

A social media policy should cover personal and professional use.

PRACTICE

P R O D U C T G U I D E

OsteoarthritisProduct guide

Vet Practice magazine’s guide to the best osteoarthritis products on the market

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Osteoarthritis Product guide

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There are more cats than ever, and they’re living longer than ever—which means more cases of osteoarthritis. But for many vets, the treatment for osteoarthritis seemed to be as bad as the disease.

There has been an increase in the cat population both across Australia and New Zealand, partially because of urbanisation, and also because people want to have smaller pets.1 And with better healthcare, the life span of pets is increasing.

It’s known that one in three cats will develop some form of degenerative joint disease,2 and that cats above the age of 12 years have a greater chance of developing arthritis.3 It’s something that is going to happen at some point in a cat’s life.

The treatment to manage the pain of osteoarthritis includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be associated with serious side effects, if not used appropriately. For this reason clinicians have an association of NSAIDs being harmful to the kidneys, especially in cats. However, there are studies that have shown to effectively treat cats with impaired renal function with a NSAID. This has been achieved through proper screening and monitoring of patients. Specialist feline practitioners suggest that clinicians test the renal parameters regularly, and if these parameters are stable and there’s no

Managing the pain of Feline Osteoarthritisdrastic deviation, then NSAIDs can be used safely and effectively in cats that have renal problems.3,4

The fact that NSAIDs for cats are relatively new compared to dogs—the first being only registered in 2008 —means there is very limited information available on guidelines for safe use of NSAIDs in cats. The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) offer great advice on long term treatment with NSAIDs and also recommend lowest effective dose to reduce any potential side effects. The alternatives—either avoiding the use of NSAIDs, or pulse dosing—are not ideal, even if the latter seems to be a safer way of managing side effects.

Just like any other drug, the goal of treatment is to ensure that you give the right amount of medication at the right intervals. Given the possible variations in weight, age, concomitant disease and current medications in the effected cats, that initial dose in going to vary from patient to patient.

That initial dose will be based on the cat’s lean or ideal body weight. It is recommended that this dose be maintained for at least one week for maximum clinical response, and then titrate down once a clinical response has

been observed. By monitoring the response to treatment on a daily basis, you will be able to determine the lowest effective dose without compromising the efficacy of the drug. Based on the studies that have already been published, plus what the international feline specialists are saying, Boehringer Ingelheim has developed some guidelines for Metacam, which is their NSAID, for the clinician to work with once he or she has decided to titrate the dose.

If you do the right checks at regular intervals, clinicians can reduce the adverse drug events associated with NSAIDs and more importantly improve the quality of life for the cat.

References1. Animal Health Alliance – Pet Ownership in

Australia 20132. Clarke SP et al, Prevalence of radiographic

signs of degenerative joint disease in a hospital population of cats, The Veterinary Record, 2005

3. Hardie E M, Radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease in geriatric cats, JAVMA, Vol 220, No.5, 2002, 628-632

4. Gunew M N et al. Long-term safety, efficacy and palatability of oral meloxicam at 0.01–0.03mg/kg for treatment of osteoarthritic pain in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2008;10(3): 235-241. Gowan A R et al. A retrospective analysis of the effects of meloxicam on the longevity of aged cats with and without overt chronic kidney disease. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2012;14(12): 876-881

At the lowest effective dose, Metacam can be taken daily, without compromising effi cacy.1-3

A little dose of

1. ISFM & AAFP Consensus Guidelines: Long-term use of NSAIDs in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2010;12:519 2. Gunew M N et al. Long-term safety, effi cacy and palatability of oral meloxicam at 0.01–0.03 mg/kg for treatment of osteoarthritic pain in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2008;10(3): 235-241. 3. Gowan A R et al. A retrospective analysis of the effects of meloxicam on the longevity of aged cats with and without overt chronic kidney disease. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2012;14(12): 876-881. AUSTRALIA: Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited. ABN 52 000 452 308. Animal Health Division, 78 Waterloo Road, North Ryde NSW 2113. Toll Free 1800 038 037. Fax Number 02 8875 8715. NEW ZEALAND: Boehringer Ingelheim (NZ) Ltd. Animal Health Division, Level 1, Unit 9, 42 Ormiston Road, East Tamaki, Auckland. Toll Free 0800 802 461. Fax Number 09 271 0629. Restricted Veterinary Medicine. Access is only through a Veterinary Authorisation. Metacam® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, 55216 Ingelheim/Rhein. BIMET0025.

BIMET0025/01_VET_PRACTICE_297x210_AW02.indd 1 15/12/14 12:29 PM

A D V E R T O R I A L

Osteoarthritis Product guide

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OSTEOARTHRITIS IS ONE OF THE most common conditions affecting the health and wellbeing of pets.

Traditionally pets and their owners present to vets when the condition is well advanced, but as we all become more informed about early signs, there is greater demand from pet owners and the profession for both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products that can help with the pain, distress and mobility problems faced by sufferers.

Blackmores Animal Health is dedicated to providing efficacious and scientifically supported long-term natural solutions to osteoarthritis. The two key products PAW by Blackmores offer for osteoarthritis are Osteocare®, which is most beneficial for patients before signs present, or are in very mild stages of the disease (note – also great for pets with predispositions to joint issues and very active or overweight dogs). “We recommend this product well before there are any signs of the disease,” says Dr Charmaine Tham, Blackmores Animal Health Technical Product Manager. “However what many vets find, is that dogs are presented to the clinic and they’re often in the very late stages of the disease.” And that’s where Paw by Blackmores other option, Osteosupport® is more beneficial. “Because osteoarthritis is progressive— there is no cure—you have to manage the pain and the condition continually.”

Osteosupport® is made from 100 percent New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel using a proprietary extraction process, which means it has high levels

of the active omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, ETA and DHA). It also ensures great bioavailability. “So what that does, is compete with the arachidonic acid in the body, and therefore reduces the inflammatory mediators that come out on the other end,” says Dr Tham.

It’s important to note that Green Lipped Mussel has had over 100 peer-reviewed published papers internationally, in the medical field as well as the veterinary field, so there is substantial data to show that if the quality of the product is good enough, it has certainly been shown to have an effect.

“In terms of therapeutic protocol,” says Dr Tham, “the nutritional supplements should be started as early as possible, because it takes time for it to really get into the body and integrate and have an effect. I know a lot of vets start off their protocol with Cartrophen, I would recommend starting a nutritional supplement at the same time, at the first presentation,” says Dr Tham.

There have also been studies that have shown that if the animal is put on the Green Lipped Mussel supplement, the need for rescue analgesia is lower, and depending on the case, may not need as much non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

“So if you get in early enough and manage the case early, you may not need to use non-steroidals as soon, or certainly you can reduce the patient’s reliance on them over time. Of course this is very much on a case-by-case basis. Also it’s important to note there are no known

contraindications of these products with any other therapies we are aware of.”

Blackmores Animal Health joint care division is an integral part of the company. Dr Charmaine Tham adds, “One of the most important things I would like to let vets to know is the high quality of our ingredients. Obviously there are differences between the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets, and one of the biggest differences between products in the nutraceutical market is quality. With PAW by Blackmores, we guarantee the product will be of Blackmores quality—using the best quality ingredients available to us.”

In fact, Blackmores has a whole division dedicated to quality. “All ingredients go through stress tests and rigorous stability checks as well, we make sure the manufacturing specifications are strictly met—so the product does what it says it will do—and for that period of time, its stability is guaranteed,” says Dr Tham.

With more than 80 years experience in Natural health care, Blackmores has earned the trust of generations of Australian households and now pet owners.

“If vets are reaching out for a nutritional supplement whose results will make a genuine difference to signs of osteoarthritis, then those vets would want to reach out for a trusted and quality brand. The renowned quality and efficacy of the Blackmores brand is what has made the company so successful thus far.”

Leaders in nutraceutical science

A D V E R T O R I A L

Osteoarthritis Product guide

34

For your canine and feline patients with arthritis, the right nutrition can make all the difference when it comes to disease management, improving mobility, and easing the pain.

Hill’s Prescription Diet™ j/d™ interrupts the cycle of damage by helping to reduce cartilage degradation, joint inflammation and discomfort2. It also helps to preserve healthy joint cartilage3.

Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d canine is clinically tested to help your canine walk and run better, play better and climb stairs more easily in as little as 21 days1-4. In addition to this, for those dogs that are having their arthritis managed medically, j/d canine is a great compliment to current medical treatments with some cases being able to reduce the dosage of NSAID by 25 per cent 4.

Hill’s Prescription diet j/d feline is clinically proven to help cats with arthritis be more active in as little as 28 days5-7.

Hill’s j/d tastes great and is available as both a dry and canned food.

For more information, contact your Hill’s Territory Manager or the Hill’s Helpline on 1800 679 932.

Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d™Reduces cartilage degradation, joint inflammation and discomfort2 in cats and dogs

1. Roush JK, Cross AR, Renberg WC, et al. Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2010; 236: 67-73. 2. Roush JK, Dodd CE, Fritsch DA, et al. Multicenter veterinary practice assessment of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on osteoarthritis in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2010; 236: 59-66. 3. Caterson B, Little CB, Cramp J, et al, The modulation of canine articular cartilage degradation by omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, Proceedings, North American Veterinary Conference, 2005. 4. Fritsch DA , Allen TA, Dodd CE et al. A multicenter study of the effect of a therapeutic food supplemented with fish oil omega 3-fatty acids on the Carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;236: 535-539. 5. Frantz NZ, Hahn K ,MacLeay Jet al. Effect of a test food on whole blood gene expression in cats with appendicular degenerative joint disease. J Vet Intern Med 2010; 24: 771. 6. Fritsch D, AllenT, Sparkes A et al. Improvement of clinical signs of osteoarthritis in cats by dietary intervention. J Vet Intern Med 2010; 24: 771–772. 7. Sparkes A, Debraekeleer J, Fritsch D et al.An open-label, prospective study evaluating the response to feeding a veterinary therapeutic diet in cats with degenerative joint disease. J Vet Intern Med 2010; 24: 771.Hill’s, Prescription Diet and j/d are registered trademarks of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Editorial prepared by H Burton, Hill’s Australia (2014).

Nutrition is therapy. Talk to your clients today*.

The right nutrition can make all the difference to your patients’ mobility

Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ j/d™ Canine is clinically proven to help dogs walk, run and jump better in as little as 21 days.

*Data on file. Hill’s™ and Prescription Diet™ are all trademarks owned by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. © 2013 Hill’s Pet Nutrition Pty Limited. HPA2181. 05/13. GHG.

Efficiency and safety of MLS® Laser TherapyDLC AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THANKS TO a partnership with ASA Laser— an Italian company having more than thirty years experience in the development of therapies and related devices based on laser source— is glad to launch in the market a therapeutic solution in veterinary field: MLS® (Multiwave Locked System) Laser Therapy.

This innovative technique, cleared by the U.S. FDA and patented in Italy and the USA, meets the requirements of any veterinarian, allowing them to effectively treat osteomuscular apparatus and dermatology diseases commonly spread in small animals, exotic species and horses, improving their quality of life.

MLS® combines and synchronises specific continuous and pulsed emissions with different wavelengths. In this way, the

laser’s energy goes deeper into the tissue, obtaining a synergy and strengthening of the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edema effects and speeding up the healing process.

The efficiency and safety of MLS® Laser Therapy have been proved scientifically on ASA campus, the Joint Laboratory at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Experimental Science of the University of Florence, directed by Dr. Monica Monici. Working closely with an international network of researchers, including the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science of the University of Padua, ASA campus has enabled DLC to showcase the validity by identifying the specific biological interactions and the three important therapeutic effects of the MLS® pulse (photo-chemical, photo-thermal, photo-mechanical).

Exclusive Australian Distributorswww.dlc.com.au | sales@dlc.com.au | Ph.1300 785405

to MLS® Laser Therapy

w w w . a s a v e t e r i n a r y . c o m

Thanks to the innovative technique MLS®, the laser intervenes on the following conditions:u Osteoarthritisu Disc pathologiesu Bursitisu Perianal fistulaeu Contusions, hematomasu Acute and chronic tendon lesionsu Muscular sprains and strains

With these advantages: With these results:1 Synergy and strengthening of the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edema effects2 Rapid reduction of pain3 Rapid healing of superficial lesions (wounds, sores)4 Rapid recoup of the structural integrity of damaged tissue5 Improvement of local blood circulation

1 Painless2Sedation is not required3Does not require shearing (unless specified by the Veterinary) 4The owner can be present during the treatment5Short treatment length and with courses lasting few sessions

MLS® can be used on dogs, cats, equine and exotic animals.

u Muscular-schelectrical traumasu Degenerative articular pathologiesu Superficial cutaneous lesions (wounds, ulcers, sores)u Healing of surgical woundsu Lick granulomasu Gingivitis-Stomatitis

A D V E R T O R I A L

Osteoarthritis Product guide

A D V E R T O R I A L

Osteoarthritis Product guide

Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium 100mg/mLCanine dose rate of 3mg/kgHorse dose rate of 2-2.5mg/kg

Store below 25 C (A/C)Available in 10mL & 12x10mL (ValuPack)

Cartrophen VET Healthy joints happy dogsFOR THE TREATMENTOF NON-INFECTIOUS

INFLAMMATORY JOINT DISEASE IN DOGS AND HORSES

bbiopharm

australia pty ltd 111 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022, Tel: 61 2 9389 0000, Email: arthro@ozemail.com.au www.cartrophen.com

Practice EconomicsCARTROPHEN VET (CV) is convenient to the owner, effective and safer to the dog and allows monitoring of the condition, increased compliance and increased service by the veterinary surgeon. Its low cost per dose and higher proportion of charges in relation to service makes it a business winner. Offer your clients the disease modifying option.

EfficacyCARTROPHEN VET has a spectrum of pharmaceutical activities that target multiple sites in the metabolic, immunological and circulatory defects associated with osteoarthritis. The clinical response seen is due to improvement of the underlying disease, leading to less pain and thus increased use. This is a different mode of action to NSAIDs, which suppress the inflammation

resulting from these changes, but has minimal effects on disease progression or reversal. CV has been demonstrated to be superior in clinical efficacy to the NSAID carprofen. CV has greater efficacy than nutritional supplements, which have failed to achieve convincing scientific evidence of clinical effects.

SafetyCARTROPHEN VET has an exemplary safety record, and is one of the few veterinary drugs to have published a review of the adverse reaction reports in a scientific journal. Effects documented are rare, mild and transitory and involve mainly depression and vomiting shortly after administration in the dog. Compared to NSAIDs which have a significant profile of serious side effects including death,

gastric ulceration and perforation and liver and kidney toxicity, CV is the safe choice.

QualityCARTROPHEN VET contains a human quality active pentosan polysulfate (PPS). The identical PPS is marketed in Australia and United States as Elmiron ® for the indication interstitial cystitis for humans, and in a number of other countries including Germany for treatment of venous thrombosis in humans.

For more information call 02 9389 0000 or email: arthro@ozemail.com.au

CARTROPHEN VET® Healthy Joints, Happy Dogs

0414 581 600info@vetprac.com /vetprac /company/vetprac

Visit www.vetprac.com/our-workshops to book now.

Bridge the gap between learning and doing

Behaviour & Handling Workshop

Abdominal Ultrasound Workshop

External Fixation

Workshop

March 28th – 29th April 17th – 18th May 8th – 9th

Canberra, ACT Melbourne, VIC Roseworthy, SA

PetMapby Dr Shaun Scheepers, Port Adelaide Veterinary Clinic, Ethelton, SA

I spent quite some time trying to justify spending the money to purchase this blood pressure testing device. I don’t know what I was worried about! We have been blown away by the work PetMap can do. It has become so much a part of our routine when dealing with older dogs and cats, I’m not sure how we survived without it.

What’s good about itPetMap has allowed us to do routine blood pressure testing for all our senior pets older than seven. We’ve picked up a huge number of blood pressure issues within that age bracket, particularly with cats. It has allowed us to treat blood pressure as a stand-alone medical entity.

PetMap is attached using a small Velcro cuff wrapped around the tail or the forelimb. Tails are the preferred attachment point and we attempt to get the animal in a lying position so the tail and a heart are in the same plane.

We take at least seven readings in order to create an average. If the blood pressure reading is high or a bit suspicious, we generally bring the animal back a few weeks later and repeat the process. Then we decide whether to treat or not.

There’s an easy-to-read screen that displays the results, a graph of the blood pressure readings and a figure. It displays the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and also gives an average of the heart rate.

All our cardiac, thyroid and blood pressure patients get a regular check so it’s a machine that’s well utilised.

What’s not so goodThere is always the issue of whether you’re getting accurate readings using one individual machine. We routinely bring the animal back for another test if we pick up any worrying readings. In this way, we compensate for any false readings.

Where did you get itVetquip (www.vetquip.com.au).

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Y O U R T O O L S

A blood pressure tester that will blow you away; an oxygen concentrator that covers all bases, and much more are under review this month …

TOOLS TRADE

of the

OT-Elite 8 oxygen concentrator by Stephanie Robertson, Brudine Veterinary Hospital, Charnwood, ACT

In the past, we had all our oxygen needs fulfilled by the delivery of oxygen cylinders. Even though we still use these cylinders, now the majority of our oxygen is produced by this machine.

What’s good about itThis unit is simply plugged into a power point and it concentrates oxygen from the surrounding air. It removes all the carbon dioxide and impurities and produces oxygen at 94 per cent purity. It can deliver up to eight litres of oxygen per minute.

The machine is portable with attached wheels to make it easy to move to other rooms. It has a display that shows the purity of the oxygen and a warning sound if it’s not working optimally.

We use the concentrator for all our oxygen needs except for CPR. There isn’t enough pressure to fill the bag quickly enough when you are breathing for the patient. In that situation, we still use compressed oxygen.

Maintenance is just a matter of changing a filter once a week. It doesn’t take up much room and is fairly quiet when it’s running. We have it attached directly to our anaesthetic machine and turn it on about half an hour before surgery. It then gets turned off at the end of the day.

It’s a big improvement to relying solely on oxygen bottles and it works out much cheaper.

What’s not so goodYou have to be careful to set up the machine correctly. Initially, we had it set to produce four litres of oxygen per minute but we were only using two litres of oxygen per minute. This created too much pressure in the machine and the oxygen purity went down. As soon as we adjusted the settings, everything was fine.

Where did you get itVetquip (www.vetquip.com.au).

0414 581 600info@vetprac.com /vetprac /company/vetprac

Visit www.vetprac.com/our-workshops to book now.

Bridge the gap between learning and doing

Behaviour & Handling Workshop

Abdominal Ultrasound Workshop

External Fixation

Workshop

March 28th – 29th April 17th – 18th May 8th – 9th

Canberra, ACT Melbourne, VIC Roseworthy, SA

Y O U R T O O L S

continued from page 39

Parks Doppler 811Bby Dr Ian McBryde, Salisbury Highway Veterinary Surgery, Salisbury, SA

This machine measures the systolic pressure of dogs and cats, and I’ve been using it for about five years. I graduated a long time ago and there has been an awful lot of equipment come through in my time. This is the

piece of equipment that I found to be the most useful new tool.

What’s good about itWhenever we have a suspicion of blood pressure issues, we turn to the Parks Doppler. We use it routinely on older cats due to the prevalence of hypertension in these animals. During every surgery involving anaesthetic, the Parks Doppler is used to monitor the blood pressure. It emits an audible whooshing sound that you can hear throughout the entire procedure. It’s fantastic because you’re alerted to changes in blood pressure before there’s a change in heart rate. It’s a great forewarning that something is changing.

This machine alerted me to the occasional drops in pressure that happen to an animal in anaesthesia. That made me rethink the drive for non-steroidal drugs, pre-anaesthetic or during anaesthetic. We now only give them after anaesthesia when the animal is in recovery. A big drop in blood pressure can make these drugs toxic to kidneys.

What’s not so goodWhen a cuff is placed on a lower limb, it’s possible for the blood vessel to slot between two bones and this will give a false high reading. You also have to be a little careful with the probes. They’re quite delicate and expensive pieces of equipment. Having said that, we’ve only had to replace two probes over the past five years.

Where did you get itAdvanced Anaesthesia Specialists (www.aasmedical.com.au).

40

Niki infusion pump V4by Tania O’Neill, Highton Veterinary Clinic, Highton, VIC

This pump infuses fluids, such as saline or Hartmann’s, into an animal’s veins. Every animal going into surgery or receiving dental work automatically goes on intravenous fluids so the pump gets plenty of use.

What’s good about itThe great thing about this pump is that you can choose how much fluid to give to the animal in a particular timeframe. For example, if we want to replace a dog’s dehydration deficit quickly, we can choose to use a higher fluid rate for the first two hours. An alarm will then sound so we can reduce the fluid rate. It will also record how much fluid the animal has received in the preceding 24 hours.

This is a much better system compared to how we administered fluids in the past. Previously, a bag would be attached via an IV line and you had to count how many drips fell per minute to work out the rate. This pump does all the calculations automatically and is much more accurate.

We also use it in various ways for our hospital patients. We treat constipation and dehydration with fluids administered by this pump. We recently had a dog that was a bit bombed from pre-meds after surgery so we left it on fluids to flush out those pre-meds.

It also has an audible alarm if there are any problems like air in the line, the battery going flat, fluid getting low or if it’s not plugged in. It’s almost impossible for anything to go

seriously wrong.

What’s not so goodIf the power should go out and the batteries are flat, the pump is useless. In that situation, you would have to go back to the old manual style.

Where did you get itLyppards (www.lyppard.com.au).

99% of clients will not brush their pet’s teeth. Every pet drinks water daily.

What could be easier than healthymouthTM?• Clinically proven, 7 Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC®) Seals of Acceptance. No other company has been awarded 7 VOHC® Seals.• Plaque reduction: Dogs on average 74.3% Cats on average 81.75%• Safe for pets to ingest; NO xylitol, alcohol, artificial or synthetic ingredients, sugar, fat or calories. 100% human grade natural and organic ingredients.• healthymouthTM is to be started directly after a professional prophylaxis; sent home with every patient as part of a comprehensive dental care program. Also can be used by pets with other health or weight issues, puppies and kittens, even full mouth ex tractions.• 100% return policy.• Veterinary Exclusive — not available in pet shops.• healthymouth’s pet owner education program will enable your clinic to increase its # of preventative dentals year round. Patients, owners and your veterinary practice all benefit from healthymouthTM.• Manufactured and distributed in Australia by iM3 Pty Ltd. healthymouthTM is the leading home dental care product developed in the USA and recommended by Boarded Veterinary Dental Specialists worldwide.

Tel: +61 2 9420 5766 | Email: sales@im3vet.com | www.im3vet.com | www.healthymouth.com

I have been promoting Healthy Mouth in both dogs and cats for four months and I am delighted with the response to date.As a trial I carried out dental prophylaxis in my own dogs and placed them on Healthy Mouth 7 days pre-dental and on-going ever since.Healthy Mouth has delayed and reduced the build-up of calculus on teeth in my two dogs. My pets have taken readily to the product in their drinking water. I am getting similar feedback from my dog and cat clients.The fact that Healthy Mouth comes with VOHC approval means that one can be confident in promoting and dispensing this prod-uct as part of overall dental home-care plans for cats and dogs.Regards,Paul

Dr Paul Owens BSc, BVSc, PhD, MRCVSVeterinary Surgeon

IM3 full page.indd 1 9/05/2014 11:09 am

Cave man

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“Cave diving is one of the few pursuits that offers the opportunity to go somewhere and discover things nobody has seen before. Once you’ve experienced it, the thrill of discovery never leaves you. It’s hard to explain the excitement I feel when I see a hole in the ground with outflowing water—I have to know where that water comes from and where it goes.

“I belong to an informal group of cave divers called the Wet Mules. There are about six of us who have dived together for the past 15 years. During an expedition, we are often on site camping for a couple of weeks. You want to share that experience with like-minded people you trust and with whom you can have a good time.

“Cocklebiddy Cave is located on the Nullarbor Plain and, at one stage, was the longest known underwater cave in the world. We went there in 2008 and managed to extend the exploration of the cave by another 120 metres. That was pretty exciting—it was the first big thing on my resumé.

“We have also had multiple expeditions to the Pearse Resurgence in New Zealand. It’s the deepest dive in Australasia and in 2012, I set a depth record of 220 metres. Not that I went out to break any records—it was simply a matter of wanting to explore a world-class site and making the most of it.

“A dive of that depth takes 17 hours and is only possible with the use of rebreathers. Of that 17 hours, half an hour was spent at the bottom followed by 16-and-a-half hours of decompression. There was a lot of time to think about life.

“The next big thing for us is China. There are a lot of caves to be explored and cave diving is not a well developed activity in that country. One of our team has been over to reconnoitre and we are all going over soon to have a look and bag some sites.

“When I’m going for a dive, it doesn’t have to be a big site. Often you can dive in caves that have been well explored and find another little passage off to the side. That can be just as exciting as the really big expeditions. My favourite dive is always the one I’ve just completed.”

The thrill of discovery has led Dr Craig Challen of Vetwest Animal Hospital in Clarkson, WA, to become one of Australia’s leading technical cave divers

Like all veterinary professionals, you have two lives – your work life and your home life.

At BOQ Specialist, we work so closely with our clients that we get to know both. So we’ve created the BOQ Specialist banking package.

It combines a home loan with a credit card and a flexible, everyday bank account that accrues favourable interest on balances in your account.

All for one annual fee of $395.

We know there’s more to you, that’s why we can do more for you.

Visit us at boqspecialist.com.au/twolives or speak to our financial specialists on 1300 131 141.

Financial products and services described in this document are provided by BOQ Specialist Bank Limited ABN 55 071 292 594 (BOQ Specialist). BOQ Specialist is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740 (BOQ). BOQ and BOQ Specialist are both authorised deposit-taking institutions in their own right. Neither BOQ nor BOQ Specialist guarantees or otherwise supports the obligations or performance of each other or of each other’s products.

The issuer and credit provider of these products is BOQ Specialist. Terms and conditions, fees and charges and lending and eligibility criteria apply. All BOQ Specialist banking package benefits are subject to the BOQ Specialist Banking Package Terms and Conditions. We reserve the right to cease offering these products at any time without notice. Any advice is of a general nature only. We haven’t taken into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs when preparing it. Before acting on this advice you should consider if it’s appropriate for your situation. You should obtain and consider the BOQ Specialist Banking Terms and Conditions from boqspecialist.com.au/banking before making any decision about whether to acquire the product. BOQ Specialist is not offering financial, tax or legal advice. You should obtain independent financial, tax and legal advice as appropriate.

Equipment and fit-out finance / Credit cards / Home loans / Commercial property finance / Car finance / Practice purchase loans SMSF lending and deposits / Transactional banking and overdrafts / Savings and deposits / Foreign exchange

How many lives are you leading? We can help with them all.

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For more information contact your Territory Manger or the Hill’s Helpline on 1800 679 932.

1.Data on file. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. US, 2011. TM’s owned by Hill’s Pet nutrition, Inc. ©Hill’s Pet Nutrition 2015. HIMA-HB-1409D3A9. HPA2391. 01/15. GHG.